67 protesters arrested after storming Petaluma poultry plant

1of7Direct Action Everywhere protesters marched along The Embarcadero from the Ferry Building on Sunday, May 28 2017, in San Francisco, CA.Photo: Paul Kuroda / Special to The Chronicle

2of7Anita Krajnc (foreground) lay with 350 people of Direct Action Everywhere, spanning the full length of the Ferry Building, in what they describe as a "die-in" on Sunday, May 28 2017 in San Francisco, CA.Photo: Carson Au / Special to The Chronicle

3of7Activists slow traffic for the rest of the 350 Direct Action Everywhere marchers heading to Pier 39 on The Embarcadero on Sunday, May 28 2017, in San Francisco, CA.Photo: Paul Kuroda / Special to The Chronicle

4of7Shaon Statue's dog, he has just adopted, makes a restroom break on their way from the Ferry Building to Pier 39 with 350 Direct Action Everywhere marchers on Sunday, May 28 2017, in San Francisco, CA.Photo: Paul Kuroda, Special to The Chronicle

5of7Kayla Forster (center) and Marilyn Wissel who is has terminal cancer, blames meat and pharmaceuticals for her illness, march with 350 Direct Action Everywhere to Pier 39 on The Embarcadero on Sunday, May 28 2017, in San Francisco, CA.Photo: Paul Kuroda, Special to The Chronicle

6of7John said he "feels differently" about this topic. About 350 people of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) demonstrated at the at the Ferry Building and marched to Pier 39 on The Embarcadero on Sunday, May 28 2017 in San Francisco, CA.Photo: Paul Kuroda, Special to The Chronicle

7of7About 350 people of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) demonstrated at the at the Ferry Building and marched to Pier 39 on The Embarcadero on Sunday, May 28 2017 in San Francisco, CAPhoto: Paul Kuroda, Special to The Chronicle

Sixty-seven animal rights protesters were arrested Saturday after they stormed a poultry plant in Petaluma and snatched chickens, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to multiple 911 calls from McCoy Poultry Services, on the 100 block of Jewett Road in Petaluma, at about 1:30 p.m. and ran into about 200 animal rights protesters conducting what they called “a coordinated protest” inside and outside the business.

The protesters, part of animal rights activist group Direct Action Everywhere, said on their Facebook page that they were rescuing animals that were sick or injured, and said that the business provides chickens to Amazon.

“Birds were found there that were dead or dying,” the group said. “One had a broken leg.”

When deputies entered the McCoy buildings, they found about 70 activists wearing white protective outfits, “many carrying chickens they had stolen from within buildings on the property,” the sheriff’s office said.

According to deputies, the business owner and an employee were assaulted by a protester.

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Forty deputies were sent to the scene along with the sheriff’s helicopter. Animal control officers were summoned to take possession of the chickens that were stolen, the sheriff’s office said.

The office also reported that it took four hours to arrest the protesters and take them to the Sonoma County Jail, where they were booked on misdemeanor trespassing and felony burglary and conspiracy charges. One protester also was arrested for assaulting the owner and employee.

Matt Johnson, a Direct Action Everywhere spokesman, said the felony charges were uncalled for, defended the group’s actions as a legal protection of animals under state animal cruelty laws and said no assault had taken place.

“That’s not the way we act,” he said. “We train extensively in nonviolent protest in the spirit of Gandhi.”

He previously covered all things transportation for the San Francisco Chronicle — from BART strikes, acrobatic bridge construction and dark dirty tunnel excavations to the surging ridership on public transportation and the increasing conflict as cars, bikes and pedestrians struggle to coexist on the streets. He’s ridden high-speed trains in Japan, walked in BART’s Transbay Tube and driven to King City at 55 mph to test fuel efficiency.

He joined The Chronicle as a suburban reporter and deputy bureau chief in Contra Costa County, and has also covered the general assignment beat. In addition to transportation, Michael covers a variety of Bay Area news, including breaking news events. He’s been tear-gassed covering demonstrations in Oakland and exposed to nude protesters in the Castro District.